Systems and methods for compressing and distracting vertebrae of the spinal column

Abstract

Spinal surgical systems include a compressor mountable to a first vertebra and positionable relative to a fulcrum mountable to a second vertebra. The compressor and fulcrum are manipulated relative to one another to compress the first and second vertebrae. The systems further include a distractor mountable to a first vertebra and positionable relative to a fulcrum mountable to a second vertebra. The distractor and fulcrum are manipulated relative to one another to distract the first and second vertebrae.

1. A spinal surgical system, comprising:
 a distractor including an elongated body extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a leverage surface said distractor further comprising an angled extension extending distally from said elongated body along a distal axis angled relative to said longitudinal axis and an engaging member extending distally from said angled extension, said engaging member being engageable to a first vertebra; and 
 a fulcrum including an elongated shaft extending between a proximal end and a distal end wherein said elongated body and said angled extension each include a channel oriented toward said fulcrum in said first configuration and said elongated shaft of said fulcrum is received in said channel of said angled distal-extension in said first configuration and said distal end being engageable to a second vertebra, said elongated shaft of said fulcrum being removably and nestably received by said distractor with said elongated shaft in contact with said leverage surface of said distractor, said distractor and said fulcrum having a first configuration wherein said distal end of said fulcrum is positioned to a first side of and adjacent to said engaging member of said distractor and said proximal end of said fulcrum is positioned to said first side of and spaced from said proximal end of said distractor, wherein movement of said proximal ends of said distractor and said fulcrum toward one another moves said engaging member of said distractor and said distal end of said fulcrum away from one another about said leverage surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said leverage surface is contactable with said elongated shaft at any one of a number of locations along said elongated shaft when in said first configuration. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated shaft is positioned along said channel of said elongated body as said proximal ends of said distractor and said fulcrum are moved toward one another. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said leverage surface is formed at a junction of said channels of said elongated body and said angled extension. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said engaging member of said distractor includes a flat, plate-like body. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein said engaging member includes a recess in a distal end surface of said flat, plate-like body. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a construct including an elongated connecting member extending between the first and second vertebrae and first and second anchors for engaging the connecting member between the first and second vertebrae, wherein said distractor and said fulcrum are mountable to respective ones of the first and second anchors, said elongated connecting member being movable along at least one of said anchors when said proximal ends of said fulcrum and said distractor are moved toward one another to move said engaging member of said compressor and said distal end of said fulcrum away from one another to distract the first and second vertebrae. 
 
     
     
       8. A method for distracting vertebrae, comprising:
 positioning a distractor and a fulcrum through a portal to the vertebrae, wherein the leverage surface is formed between a proximal channel and a distal channel opening along one side of the distractor. the distal channel being angled relative to the proximal channel; 
 mounting the fulcrum to a first vertebra; 
 mounting the distractor to a second vertebra;
 positioning the fulcrum against a leverage surface of the distractor, wherein positioning the fulcrum against the leverage surface of the distractor includes positioning the fulcrum in the distal channel of the distractor; and 
 pivoting the distractor and fulcrum relative to one another about the leverage surface by moving proximal ends of the distractor and fulcrum toward one another to move distal ends of the distractor and fulcrum away from one another thereby distracting the vertebrae. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the leverage surface is positionable at any one of a number of locations along the fulcrum. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8  wherein pivoting the distractor and fulcrum relative to one another includes moving the proximal channel toward the fulcrum. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein mounting the fulcrum and mounting the distractor each include mounting the fulcrum and mounting the distractor to an anchor engaged to respective ones of the first and second vertebrae. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising engaging a connecting member between the first and second anchors when a desired distraction between the first and second vertebrae is obtained.